Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-09-08
The T est.

since she came from the boarding
school in Philadelphia to preside over
her fathers house with pretty airs Of
control which Mrs. Wells, the actual
housekeeper, never resented or contra
dicted. Her beauty was OF the cx-
quisitely delicate type peculiar to
American girls of the refined, cducat
ed class-the aristocracy of this demo-
cratic land. Her hair of golden brown
covered her tall, slender figure like a
veil in fine threads of richest gold.
Her eyes were deep hazel shaded by
long, golden-brown lashes, and her
features were cut as clearly and
larry as fine cameo. Hands and feet
were small and slender, not thin, for her
whole figure was gracefully rounded.
But her greatest perfection was skin
as fair, soft and spotless rs that of a
miniature painting.
When the good minister chrislened
her he gave her the far from mus ical
name of Mary Jane, and Mary Jane
Trask was certainly her proper cogno-
men. But she was May from a baby;
May in school, May at home, and
when, at eighteen. she came home
'for good" with the honors of the
seminary embodied in her diploma,
there was probably not six people in
Wildhaven who knew her name was
actually Mary Jane.
She reigned in the village by right of
her lovely face. her kind heart, her
city accomplishments and her fathers
the grandees of the place, though his
worldly means would probably sound
very small if named in dollars and
cents in Wall street.
Nobody wondered when Mr.. Pendlc-
ton, the great city artist, came to
Wildhaven for the summer that he re-
guested the doctor to allow him to take
Miss Mays portrait, to Introduce into
a scene he was pa ming of spring.
In his hands the wcIl-wOrn subject
became Il marvel of fresh creations,
and when he had made his many
sketches from nature he set up Il great
easel and canvas. b. Mays permission,
in large, empty room at the doctors,
and began his painting in good earnest.
He had brought letters 10 DIR. Trask
from some old city friends, and in
Wlldhaven the proprictors were not
iron fences aga nst friendly intercourse.
Young girls were supposed to be
sufficiently guarded from insult or mis-
construction by their own innate purity
and modcstv, and when May stood for
her picture in the great empty room
nobody hands were raised in horror
bCCaus" no matron sat beside her Her
dress for thc.c occasions was of thin
floating muslin, cut to show her round
shoulders and arms, and her waving
golden hair fell unbound around her.
Upon her dress and IN the hair were
scattered delicate spring blossoms, and
the small hands carried long sprays of
tender green leaves.
But once dressed aud in position,
Mark Pcndleton desired his far model
to forget that she was sitting for Il e.
turc, and cXcrled every charm OF his
wonderful powers Of conversation for
that purpose. And Nav listened and
answered, mOdestly and in;clligently,
till She would grow interested in her
Subjects when her large eyes would di-
late with feeling, her checks flush to
del cate rose tints and her face intcnSi-
fy lis own beauty, till the artist sighed
to think how poorly paint and pencil
could reproduce the cxquis tc face he
ped.
He was somewhat older than May,
This great artist, who had seen Europe
an cities and all the natural scenery of
note in his own land, who had read and
thought so much, and whose pictures
commanded such high prices, but his
heart was fresh and youthful as boys.
and his love of beauty an undying
source of delight to him.
He had 4 tall figure ard fine face,
with large, dark, soul-lit eyes, and May
thought him as handsome as he thought
her, VIII 'ch is saying a great deal. She
felt proud if she could contribute any
thing TO his great picture, and would
flush with pleasure when he asked her
to sing rs he worked Ito inspire his
hand, delighted to pour forth her
clear. sweet soprano in his favorite
songs. and see his face kindle to enthu.
siasm at the sounds.
So they gave heart for heart in the
long summer DAYS, often forgetting
even the picture and each others faces,
as they intcrchanged the deeper soul
talk that draws true love in the strong
est bonds. The worldly wise man. the
pet of the great city, the artist whose
name was well-known one through
out the land, gave his heart to the gem
tie. sweet girl, who thought heaven
was opened for her as she knew the
gift WIS hers.
DIR. Trask gave his consent signing
little at the prospect of losing his
child, and somewhat conSoled by the
princely gift of the large painting of
Spring, where May, with hower-laden,
out-Strctched bands, seemed advancing
from the depth of forest glade to meet
him.
The wedding day was fixed for Oc-
tober. and Mark Peudleton returned to
Philadelphia to prepare home for his
bride. 1t was August when he left
Wildhaven, and May had great piles of
sewing to accomplish, but her lovers
parting words were:
Don't work too hard, my darling.
| want my little wiie's face as fair as
spring itself when l come to claim
her."
Before he had been gone two weeks
Wildhaven was thrown into terror
stricken suffering by the breaking out
OF contagious fever, that spread with
lightning rapidly through the entire
village. 1t was so violent. so fatal